Really Big Numbers

Yesterday was my twentieth birthday. I think the most frequently asked question was 'When did THAT happen?' I share the sentiment.
Today at work, all the kids sang Happy Birthday to me, which was sweet. Then they started in on the 'Are you one, are you two....' Unfortunately, being in kindergarten, they got lost after 'fourteen', and needed to be reminded of 'the really big numbers' (thanks, Noah). Don't want to know what they'd say if I had been a couple of years older. When they finally reached 20, I said 'yes' - to which Leo promptly responded 'You're supposed to say 'stop'. Not 'yes', silly.'
Yep - sure am silly. Sorry I got it wrong.
In other news, my brand new laptop, that I was so excited about, has completely crashed. Yep - not even registering that the computer HAS a hard drive. Which in normal circumstances would be an inconvenience (I bought the warranty), but thanks to the enormous essay I have due on Tuesday, that is now lost, it's a major problem. So I get to start again! Excellent.....

A great big THANK YOU for all of the birthday wishes - really made my day that much better. Because American History in the Twentieth Century and Advanced Topics in Psycholinguistics were NOT the way I would have chosen to spend my birthday...

Meet Leo

Everyone, meet Leo (with an accent, though I can't figure out how to put an accent over the e. He'll correct you if you forget it - it's lay-o, not lee-o).
Anyways, this is the little boy with autism I've been working with for the last year or so (on and off).


In the classroom, just before pictures are taken for picture day!




Blurry, but cute, I think. He's such a sweetheart.

Elevator Music

My first class of the day is on the seventh floor of a building with some very steep stairs. Needless to say, feeling as I do, I was waiting in line for the elevator on Thursday morning. So I'm waiting, and there are five or six people in front of me. A lady in a wheelchair comes up behind me, and when the elevator comes, the people pile on, leaving me and the lady in the wheelchair behind. This is a pain because, not only are the people on the elevator taking up as much room as possible, but the elevator runs VERY slowly, meaning that me and this lady have another ten minute wait.
So I wait, and wait, and wait. And the lady in the wheelchair rolls herself directly in front of me and says, seemingly to herself,
"I'm tired of people who are lazy, and take up all my space on the elevator. I mean, would it kill you to exercise and take the stairs?" Then she aimed a pointed glance at me, as though I were the lazy one in need of exercise.
Unfortunately unable to hold in my retort, I came back with "Well, I'm tired of people thinking that because I'm not in a wheelchair, my legs work well enough to run a marathon."
She shut up very quickly. The next five minutes felt like eternity.

**for those of you unaware, I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia....which hinders my walking....plus, maybe I'm lazy!

News

So...
I won a $4000 scholarship....

Brand New

As some of you know, my laptop has been acting crazy (not letting me use the power cord at all....., so my battery dies and then i can't use my computer). So, I decided that I'd take it in to get it fixed. Low and behold, it'll cost about $300 to fix. If you remember, the computer itself only cost me $300 to begin with.
This left me with two choices:
1. Use my day camp money to fix the laptop
OR
2. Use my day camp money to buy a new one!
Ladies and gentlemen, this blog comes to you from a brand new, 15.4" Compaq laptop. That's pretty much gorgeous.
Just thought I would share.
In other news, I had to drop CTESL - I couldn't even imagine the amount of work that would have to go into that degree. 250 hour placement, ridiculous amount of in-class time....
and GROUP PROJECTS. For more information on my extreme dislike of group projects, refer to the fictional web address www. group projects ruin my life .com
So I'm back to History and American Sign Language.
And a NEW JOB.
Gee - what a lot of change.

Back Again

Back in Ottawa for round three of this Carleton University thing. Picking up ANOTHER part of a degree - this time it's a Certificate to Teach English as A Second Language (CTESL). Major: History, Minor:American Sign Language, Concentration: CTESL. Means a full course overload both semesters. Am I considered a nerd if I'm excited about all of this?
Summer passed by as summers should - lots of friends, family, work, play, sun, food. Now it's back to the quote-unquote real world.....
I'm sure I'll be updating sooner than later.

Exotic Locales

All of these wonderful summer holidays (coupled with wonderful work) have got me wishing that I were somewhere exotic...you know, away from the 9, 10, and 11 degree weather we've been having. Not that I don't love where I am, but wouldn't it be fantastic if I lived in Hawaii, or some remote island in the South Pacific.
Speaking of exotic places, we're going on a cruise in February. It was initially supposed to be my mom's whole family coming with us (Aunt Deb, Uncle Paul, Lindsay, Aunt A, Uncle Den, Maddie and Parker) which would have been super excited. Unfortunately, the original West Coasters have other plans, so it'll be a slightly scaled-down family reunion. Oh well....I suppose with less people it'll be a bit easier to stay together, but we're going to miss you guys while we're away!
In other news, day camp theme is Outrigger Island: Living God's Unshakeable Truth. What this means is that the entire church is decked out (or will be) in Hawaiian gear, and Dad and a couple church guys are building an erupting volcano on the stage. I'm pretty sure it'll be fantastic - anyone feel like coming to day camp? No? You're missing out.
Not too much to report - thoughts and prayers as I go to the rheumatologist to sort out something wonky that showed up in my tests.
Promise I'll write soon (well, relatively).

Ka-Chow!

So, I was out driving my new car, headed over to Jordan's for dinner, and the COOLEST thing happened. For those of you unfamiliar with the movie Cars, tune out now.
Emily made me a CD to play, full of all sorts of driving songs (Life is a Highway, Mustang Sally, etc). On this CD is the Sheryl Crow song 'Real Gone', from the Cars soundtrack. Now, regardless of whether you know the song or not, if you've seen Cars, you'll recognize the introduction. It played while Lightning McQueen was at his first race.
ANYHOW, I'm driving, and I turn onto the on-ramp for the 400 South. And, just so you know, my car makes super race-car noises. So, I'm accelerating, and right as my car starts making these zooming noises, the song comes on. At EXACTLY THE RIGHT MOMENT. I felt like Lightning McQueen.
And so I yelled "KA-CHOW" at the top of my lungs.
Because I'm just cool like that.

Time Stands Still

14 minutes until my study break is over.
32 minutes until there's something decent to watch on TV.
2 hours and 1 minute until I should go to bed.
13 hours and 1 minute until I should wake up to study.
22.5 hours until I am writing my final exam.
25.5 hours until I am finished my final exam, and on summer vacation.
35.5 hours until I am in the car, on my way to Barrie.
40.5 hours until I am in Barrie.

That's pretty much all. Just a detailed itinerary of my life.

"Ticking off the seconds like the tick of a clock, I'll save them up for later when I'm too ticked to talk."

Penultimate Peril

Ladies and gentlemen, there are officially six days until I am finished second year university. I write a Developmental Psychology exam tomorrow morning, and a History of Africa (gag me) exam Tuesday night. Then, with a bit of rushed packing, I come back to Barrie for SUMMER VACATION.
Did some outdoor studying along the water on Sunday with a couple of friends. Unfortunately, you don't think to apply sunscreen in APRIL, so I got a sweet farmer's tan (burn!) - nice short-sleeves and scoop-neck.
Ventured down to the Market yesterday with my friend Ashley. Who else is enjoying this summer weather? It was so nice to get out of the house, after being cooped up studying.
Spending today indoors - I have a lot of studying to do in a very short time. I also have to decide which of my possessions are coming home with me - only those that are completely necessary. Unfortunately, I have more things that I DON'T wear than clothes that I actually do wear. I'm seeing a clothing exchange with the Bible study girls/a trip to Goodwill in my near future.
Anyway, no funny stories as of this moment, I've been too preoccupied with my books to have any life-altering experiences.
That's all!

PS. My title reminds me of a Gilmore Girls quote:
Robert: This is the ultimate stunt.
Finn: The penultimate!
Logan: That means next-to-last, Finn. This is the last one.
Finn: Oh. I thought it meant super-ultimate.

Spoiler-ed Rotten

I am the proud owner of a silver-blue, 2003 Hyundai Accent! It has a sunroof, a spoiler, a six-disc CD changer, very low kilometres (can you still say mileage???) and its MINE. Just thought you all oughtta know!

Subtle Lack of Interest

My usually organized self has just realized this:
Because of my dramatic loss of interest in History of Africa (the class, not the subject), I have become increasingly UN-organized.
It took me half an hour to track down my notes for that class, in four separate notebooks.
I am mysteriously missing notes from classes I KNOW I attended - and seem to have notes from classes I thought I skipped.
However, I may have entertained fantasies that I skipped, and was actually responsible.
On the upside, these notes are all verbatim from the textbook - thank goodness for professors who can't teach, and instead read the works of someone else.

In other news, I have two of six exams finished. I have four of six left. I am back in Barrie in sixteen days, and I am starting at day camp ONE MONTH from today.
That's pretty much it.

Green Light Go

On my way home from my LAST CLASS OF THE YEAR yesterday, just riding the bus, and listening to my iPod. I was about fifteen minutes from Fallowfield Station (which is 15 minutes from home), when we stopped at a bus stop to let a lady off. The bus was level with the snowbank, and the lady was getting off out of one of the back doors. These doors swing outwards (sort of, it's complicated to explain) very quickly.
So this lady waits for the bus to stop, and pushes on the doors, which don't open, even though the green-light-open light was lit. So rather than patiently waiting, or going to one of the other doors on the bus, she threw herself against them as hard as she could - at the same time that the bus driver opened the door using his bus-driver-magic powers. Needless to say, the doors fly open, she trips and stumbles off of the bus, landing in the snowbank and cursing as the bus drove away.
The bus driver hadn't turned his microphone off - we could hear him laughing all the way to Fallowfield.
I'm wondering if there's a potential lawsuit in the works.

PS. If you didn't catch my oh-so-subtle declaration, I am DONE MY SECOND YEAR OF UNIVERSITY (classes. not exams. yet.)

Pierced.

This afternoon, Ashley, Natalie and I took a bus to Carling Avenue (on purpose). When we got off the bus, we were in front of a tattoo parlour. This too, was on purpose. We entered the tattoo parlour, filled out a few forms, and waited. And waited.
Have you seen the show American Chopper? You know who 'Paul Sr.' is? If not, look him up. Because that is the guy who beckoned me into the back room. I followed him.
This man sat down on a chair, and pulled his vest around his enormous beer belly. Then, he swept his long beard out of his face, and pulled on a pair of rubber gloves.
Before I knew it, there was a long tube up my nose, and he was stabbing me with a needle. Pulling the needle out, he then inserted a screw INTO MY SKIN.
Before I knew it, I had a new nose piercing.
I then held Ashley's hand while she had her helix pierced.
That was my afternoon.
Hooray.

Done.

Breaking news.....
I am FINISHED my History of Africa and History of France papers.
Parrrrtaaaaay

Discounted

They took away my discount card.
Not because I did anything wrong, mind you. Just because I no longer work at Coles.
I guess that's what happens when you quit. You lose your perks.
At least now I will have some money, because it won't all be going into expanding my library.
In other news, I have spent sixteen out of the last forty-eight hours writing essays.
I am coming home on Friday, for Easter.
Saturday, we go see RENT in Toronto.
Sunday is Easter.
And Monday, I come back to Ottawa. Did you know that Monday isn't a holiday? Apparently. My school is still open. I have a final exam scheduled for that day. The inhumanity! (I got it rescheduled, just for me)

Fun fact for the day: The Pope changed St. Patrick's Day to March 15th, so that it wouldn't fall during Holy Week.
Another Fun Fact: He forgot to alert the media. So for all intents and purposes, Happy St. Patrick's Day

Would the real Jack Johnson please stand up?

In breaking news, the dream of my (current, nineteen-year-old) life has just come true.
It could never happen, I've been told.
It would never happen, they've said.
But it did.
Jack Johnson is coming to Canada.
Ontario.
Southern Ontario.
Oro - if you'd believe it.
Not excited? I sure am.
The man who inspired the naming practices of our newest member of the family.
The lyrics that make up the soundtrack to my life.
And maybe I'm exaggerating, just a little.
but I'm still stoked.

PS....Interested? www.jackjohnsonmusic.com August 3, 2008. Oro, Ontario

Warning

Hey all,
Just a warning...
Some of the comments on my blog posts have been hyperlinked to automatically download a virus onto your computer when you click on it. Example: the two comments underneath Laura Cave's comment on my last post.
Not sure how this affects your computer, but just be careful, okay? Don't click on the usernames of the commenters, just in case.
Thats all for now.

Impulse Purchase

I think that the impulse purchase, whether mood-driven, paycheque-driven, or frivolity-driven, it the surest way of making a substantial dent in your pocketbook (retail therapy, anyone?). However, I think that this is the first time in the history of the Asbury/McLeod/Terry/Reynolds/Kalil/Gervais family that a family has expanded due to an impulse purchase.... Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jack Johnson (said as one word)

Mom and I walked into a pet store yesterday, and I decided that I wanted to hold a puppy named Horatio.***The only way to do this was to pretend that we were seriously interested in buying him.

Mom pretended so well that she convinced herself.

Three hours later, she convinced Dad.

Jack Johnson* is a shih-tzu/poodle cross, and he is three months old.

You're all jealous, aren't you.

* Why Jack Johnson? Well, on Gilmore Girls, their dog is named Paul Anka. In true Gilmore-inspired fashion, we named him after my favourite Hawaiian-crooner-artist.....Jack Johnson.

*** What is wrong with Horatio? Capt. Horatio Nelson was the greatest naval fleet commander in British history. But once again, my family ousted my history-buff authority, and insisted that we change his name. It's okay. I chose the new name, too.

Relaxaaaaaaation

I got a phone call on Monday night, asking me if I wanted a ride to Barrie on Thursday morning.
Um, OKAY. So, rather than on SAturday, like I had planned, I am leaving to go home at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.
Awesome....
So I think this week is going to be a lot of visiting, a lot of homeworking, and a whole lot more lazing around.
Sounds like a plan. Join me?

Major Changes

Minor crisis mode. Or, I suppose, major crisis...if you can handle the pun without an audible groan.
Remember my post a few months ago (it's okay if you don't) about finally knowing where I'm going to go with my degree?
Well, I'm going to have to rethink that.
I applied for the CTESL (Certificate to Teach ESL) program, to take concurrently with my degree, assuming that these courses would also count as an English teachable in teacher's college. You know, to go along with history.
Unfortunately not. Linguistics doesn't count either. And, the psychology courses that I've been taking are only acceptable IF they're combined with anthropology or sociology, and then, only accepted at a few selected teacher's colleges.
So, being that I am terribly math and science disinclined, my other option is...
Dun da da dun!
Combined Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and English!
Bam! More than halfway through second year, and looking at switching my major again.
Well, technically not switching, but adding MORE.
This means, unfortunately, that if I'm accepted for this major change, I have two years of English courses to catch up on.
Which means dropping ASL, Linguistics, Psychology, and anything else fun I had planned.
I really don't know what I should do.
Switch? Teach elementary school? Give up entirely? Suck it up and (gulp) take another year to finish my degree.
Oh dear Lord. Suggestions, please.

98.6 Degrees of Separation

Hmmm, so, it's been a few weeks, and I'm trying to think of something interesting to let you all know.
Eight weeks left of class.
Day Camp after that.
Theme is Outrigger Island (aka HAWAII!!!)
Reading week is next week.
Essays are swallowing me whole.

In other news, Mom, Dad, Aunt Deb, Uncle Paul, Ashley, Natalie, and Auntie Ro are all on vacations. I keep getting texts saying "It's 30 degrees here, we're on the beach. I heard you're in the middle of a fantastic blizzard."
And I FEEL like texting "Bite me."
But I don't, because I'm nice like that.
So I pretend I'm in some exotic locale, while I'm strapping on my winter boots, and attempting not to strangle myself with my scarf.
Hell, when my toes defrost, I could pretend I'm walking on the beach.
I hope you're all having a wonderful time!

PS. I heard the title phrase this afternoon in a John Mayer song, and thought that it perfectly represented missing someone...think about it.

Yeah. Okay.

So I've been to Barrie and back in the time it's taken for me to update. I know. Whirlwind week. So here's what happened:

Monday I got an email from the principal of the school (vague, I know. Refer to previous posts). She said "Oh, I forgot to tell you that Tuesday is a field trip day, we can't have our meeting then, because no one will be around. Let's chat on the phone, or meet on Thursday."
Okay, great. I replied, giving her my phone number, and saying that she could call me at any time on Tuesday, or I would be there at 10:30 on THursday.
So I get an email back. "Oh sorry. I can't talk on the phone today, and I'm going on a skiing trip on Thursday."
Okay, so no meeting Tuesday OR Thursday. I went in anyways on Thursday to work. She was there the WHOLE DAY. Yeah, ooooookay.
Finally got another email on Thursday night. Meeting Friday at 10:30. Deal.
Friday rolls around, and I show up at 10:25. I wait. And wait. And wait. Until 11:45.
Then she comes out of the office. She had been talking to someone.
"Oh, Alicia. I didn't know you were coming in. I thought I was supposed to call you."
Ha, right. Because I'd drive out to Kanata if she were supposed to call.
"I really don't have a lot of time," she said.
We sat down.
"I can't keep you on as an employee of the school. Was that your concern? That was what I wasn't sure about. We can't. You don't do enough - I mean, work enough to be a plausible employee."
Um, yeah, okay.
"Unless you wanted to start up your own business and contract yourself out to us. But you'd have to pay all of your own taxes. We don't handle that kind of thing."
Um.......okay.
"We'll get you paid for the last two weeks. I'll be in touch. It was very nice to meet you."

The end. That was it. Employment terminated, no saying goodbye to anyone....the end.

In other news, Rachel and I met for coffee Friday morning, and we decided, spur of the moment, that I was going to go home with her. So I used (most of) my long distance cell minutes, made some plans, and was in the car on my way to Barrie.
SO NICE being home, even if it was just for a day or two.
Vaughan Mills Saturday, church on Sunday. Time with Jordan, Mama, Dad and Emily.
Drove to Rachel's Sunday afternoon, we left around three thirty. At five thirty, we were only in Pickering. Yeah, sucky weather. Turned around and came back.
This morning we got up, had coffee. Rachel went to the gym at ten thirty....for two hours.
I sat, nursing a newly-acquired cold, for two hours.
Then we left.
Arrived in Ottawa around 5:15.
Good weekend. Sucky ending.

Who Even Does That?

Many of you know that I work with a little boy with autism, three mornings a week. I'm 'subcontracted'; employed by a company that works out contracts with people who need therapists**. It's VERY fun, and the little boy is an absolute sweetheart.
Yesterday, I get an email from the owner of the company (not the school).
It says
"Alicia,
As of January 1, 2008, I am on maternity leave and will not be running my company. Submit your invoices directly to _____ Academy from now on."
And I was like WHAT? How can you let me know SEVEN DAYS too late that you're no longer employing me. Isn't that some kind of civil rights violation. Instead of two weeks notice, I get one week-later notice?
So, I email the principal, let her know what's going on. Dad said that I should probably just stop working there (I can't get funding without starting my own therapy business, I can't start a business without funding....plus, I don't WANT to start a business). Makes sense, even though I love the job. I don't want the government coming after me for incorrect procedure.
So I get an email back from the principal, saying,
"Alicia,
I'm busy this week. We should meet before the end of the month."
No kidding. Before the end of the month? Yeah - seeing as I'm currently not employed by anyone, and I have no idea whether or not I'm getting paid for my work.
Plus, I might not even HAVE a job with 'the little boy'.
Who DOES that?

In other news, I start back at Coles on Friday. Our Christmas party (I know) is on Sunday, at Moxie's. I'm pretty stoked.



** Sorry for the vague-ness. I'm not sure what kind of confidentiality agreements I'm supposed to be following, so I'll just omit names.

Post-Christmas Letdown

So, I'm aware that it's been weeks since I've updated, but when you're having a good time, who TRULY needs to update their blog?
In brief news, my exam (singular) went well, and I worked my butt off at Coles 36 hours a week. I also spent a good amount of time with Ashley and Natalie, and attended High Tea at the Chateau Laurier. You're jealous, aren't you.
Just got home from Barrie yesterday - it was an absolute blast seeing everyone. When I arrived home, Grandma and Grandpa Joe, Aunt Deb, Uncle Paul, Lindsay, Jen, Chris, Ella and Jordan (as well as Mom, Dad and Emily) were waiting for me. Full house? Absolutely. I believe this is what the term 'organized chaos' was developed for.
Got MANY fun new gifts - big hugs and thank yous go out to everyone.
Did some shopping, got a new Ipod (I love it. I finally caved and bought one, and I love it.)
Got a Tassimo - makes latte, espresso, coffee, tea, hot chocolate (furthering my addiction)
Spent TONS of time with Jordan.
Developed a taste for vodka and soda water (not a big taste. Just a little one)
Partied with the folks and Jordan on New Years (wahoo....big party)
Went to Collingwood - got swamped by skiiers and other tourists.
Went to church, but hardly ANYONE was there (I miss you guys).
Watched a whole bunch of movies (Sweeney Todd, National Treasure Two...and many rented ones)
Bought tickets to see RENT in Toronto (in March)
Um...that's my brief rendition of everything that's happened. Now you're fully up-to-date, and I don't have to feel guilty about leaving you in the dark!
Back to the daily grind tomorrow - but I'm a little bit excited (six courses and two jobs..yessss)